Grainswest - Spring 2026

Spring 2026 grainswest.com 47 BY SCOTT HEPWORTH GGC the voice of grain farmers in Ottawa for 25 years Take it tothe top POLICY PLACE LAUNCHED IN 2001 TO co-ordinate agricultural groups, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is a farmer-led organization that shapes federal decision-making. Taking farm perspectives to Parliament, the organiza‑ tion affects how grain is grown, moved and sold. As GGC marks 25 years as the national voice for grain farmers, its work has never been more necessary. The grain sector is under pressure on several fronts, from trade access to the systems that move grain and support innovation. We turn shared challenges into co-or‑ dinated advocacy. For a quarter of a cen‑ tury, we have worked to ensure federal decisions are grounded in the realities of farming. By building a national coalition, we have given grain farmers a consistent, credible presence in Ottawa and direct access to the tables where policy is dis‑ cussed, debated and decided. It is a simple reality that farmers are most effective when they speak together. As the number of GGC member groups has grown over the years, we have seen their goals align and influence increase. We represent national, provincial and re‑ gional organizations, and with the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) having recently joined, these groups now speak on behalf of roughly 100,000 farmers. Our mem‑ bers steward more than 120 million acres of farmland and generate more than $45 billion in annual grain exports. GFO brings one of Canada’s largest grain producing regions to the national table as sector-wide pressures intensify. Ontario’s largest commodity organi‑ zation, GFO represents 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers who cultivate more than six million acres of farmland. The organization’s addi‑ tion to the GGC roster strengthens our representation and reach, and reflects a clear understanding that a broader, more representative organization strengthens the ability of farmers to influence federal decisions that affect them. With most Canadian grain destined for export, farmers depend on predicta‑ ble, rules-based access to international markets. When trade disputes emerge or market access is disrupted, the impacts are immediate and direct, and produce lower prices, lost sales and heightened uncertainty. Ensuring agriculture re‑ mains a priority in federal trade engage‑ ment is essential to the protection of farm incomes and market stability. Reliable trade-enabling infrastructure is equally critical. When infrastructure is stretched and operates at capacity, particu‑ larly at the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest grain export gateway, the system has little room to absorb disruption. Federal investment decisions will deter‑ mine whether the grain supply chain is resilient enough to meet global demand and maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier. Federal labour policy decisions have on-farm consequences when disruptions occur across the grain value chain. Work stoppages at ports and railways can halt grain movement with little warning, which leaves farmers exposed to costs and risks they cannot control. Also critical to farmers, public invest‑ ment in crop research underpins long- term productivity and competitiveness. Declines in funding and cuts to staff and infrastructure limit the ability of farmers to improve yields, manage pests and adapt to change. Without sustained, farmer-focused research investment, Canada risks falling further behind global competitors and weakening the long-term viability of the grain sector. Decisions made far from the farm gate ripple through the system, and farmers are often the first to bear the conse‑ quences. We work to ensure policies support family farms, the viability of the sector and strong rural communities. Through this work, our strength comes from our members, whose collaboration and commitment continue to make this possible. With each new organization, this collective voice grows stronger and louder. The guiding principle of the GGC, to be the voice of Canada’s grain farmers, will remain the same. We thank our members for 25 years of collaboration and remain committed to advocating on their behalf to ensure farmers’ voices are heard where decisions are made. Scott Hepworth is chair of Grain Growers of Canada.